Machine for packing fuses



E. P. DU FONT.

MACHINE FOR PACKING FUSES.

APPLICATION FILED, MAY 13, 1918.

1,381,909, Patented June 21, 1921.

4 SHEETS*SHEET I.

E. P. DU FONT.- MACHINE FOR PACKING FUSES. APPLICATION. FILED MAY 13, 1918.

Patented June 21, 1921'.

Hans-suing E. P. DUPONT.

MACHINE FOR PACKING FUSES. APPucATmu min MAY .13, 191B.

1,381,909; PatentdJuneZl, 1921.

4 SHEETSSHEEKT a.

E. P. nu PONT. MACHINE FOR PACKING FUSES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13, 1918.

1,381,909. Patented June 21, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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machine to adaptthis process to the manu- UNITED sfrarss PATENT;oFFic thefuse holder block.

ELEUTHERE PAUL nu roivni' or iv onroiiANIN, LA ARE.

"MACHINE FOR P oxIn'erusEs ToaZZ whom it may concern; i Be it known that I, ELEUrHnRn PAUL DU ing at Montchanin, county of New Castle, and State of Delaware, have invented anew and useful Improvement "in Machinesjfor Packing Fuses, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had' toothe accompanying drawings, which form a part ofthisspecification. r.

The manufacture of pellets-of explosive material by molding the powder with gasolene under pressure'while expelling a substantial part of the gasolene is known. My invention has forits object to provide a facture of, time fuses, wherein the powder is pressed into a straight tubular -bore',the length of the bore or'the composition of the powder determining the time of burning. Specifically, the objects are, to supply fractional partsof the entire quantity of powder constituting the fuse between the strokes of a continuously working ram; to press theseveral charges with a uniform pressure whether before pressure the fuse container contains much or little powder; to cause the complete fuse to be held so wfirmly within the fuse container as to insure against its falling. out or becoming dislodged;,to guard against the existence ofany condition which might cause accidental explosion; and .to

enable filled fuse containers to be removed andtoibe replaced with fuse containers to be ,filled without stopping the operationof the machines. 1 V u I A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the wherein 1 Figure l is an elevation of a part completeapparatus.- Y I Fig. 2 is an end view of'the same,

- 1Fig. '3is-an enlarged View of the lower of a part of one of thepresses, the means forfeeding powder to the fuse holder being omitted.

Fig. A: is a vertical section on the line 4.4 of Fig. 3, with the. said powder feeding means added. w

Eig. 5 is a detail view of the valve for controlling the operation of the hydraulic actuating mechanism of the" means for controlling the valve-.

Fig. 6 is anfelevation partly in section of Application filed May 13 accompanying drawings,

, 191s. set-s1 No. 234,516:

a ection at-Danae fof th'e Specification of Letters fa tent at 'a 2 1 7 is alvertical section through: V eo er block on line;77- of Fig. 6 and Form, a citizen of the United States, resid-- I 7, l a detail view of th e-f e :260

water pipes showing the ioheck valve therein for regulating theflow of water in opp,o

site directions therethrou'gh.

ig. 10 is an elevation, rtly: f df of the rainfor packing the fuse;

"The rifle grenade fuse, which isqa name often applied to the brass containerfonthe powder fuse proper, but] which,} for 1 con-v ven ence of "nomenclature, I shall-,. herein- Uder fuse bore 6 extending longitudinally "or axially therethrough and intersectedzby a f hole c extending transversely through the relatively thick base of the barrel. -'In charging-Tithe fuse container, a plug-d-is call the fuse, is pressed-into the boreb from.

inserted within the cross-hole o andjthe charge of powder, which I-shall hereinafter 1 I -v the small diameter end of thefusecontainemf l down to the plug d, lwhichacts as'ao stop 5 and 'isafterward withdrawn-1: To hold he fuse contaii' er in cylindrical block g lwhich ca'll the fuse container sup-port, "z'This support-g gisfeii V- gaged by' a turnable handle which works; and rests against the; cam surface of the; base. This cam is so .formed tha tit rises comparatively steeplyffrom its lowestvzlevela 'j i to its central part and; thence has a veryf 1f gradual rise to its ji-high'point j. -,;The top; i N of the movable support g iscountersunk with a thirty l degree taper to adapt itto receive the-large diameter end of the fuse;

container and hold'it centrally. 1 j

When the handle is turned so asto the low 'partofthe cannthere is a sufficient,

distance between the overhanging member? of the block 6 and the su port ,g notwith r standing th e countersink'in the hole j; and

the countersink in -thesupp rt ggto allow; the fuse ',.containeif; to; be inserted, between them. By turning the handle hlgfromith V f 9W ai theiam to the highg ajifg t e;

, 01 s after call the fuse container, consists of a 40 :iii rate requiredto cause-this up-stroke tooc-' 50' of the mixture from the main to 'the 'spout 55 1 1:5 ing each fuse holder block 5 with 'itscorre airraises itstemperature 'suflicientlytoefiect the ignition of-the powder; lf however, the stroke of the ram;.-is'zmade'slow enough,

there is sufficient leakage, both between the ram andthe bore of the-fuse container and at the lower end ofnthecbore aroundthe plug, to; allow sufficient; air to escape toipre= vent its reaching a pressure and temperature high enough to-caus lignition; The most: convenient way bf; insuring this slow movement'isato throttleithe flow of. water toor from the-cylinder; Obviousxmeans for so. throttling the flow arenot available, in asmuch 'as provision must be 1 made :for a1- lowing' the water to flow more rapidly in the reverse movement of the press. ,1";

' I accomplish-the result desired by means ofa check valveil6, whichmayjbe located in either pipes w or pipe soilongs asiiti is arranged to open to} allow' "free 7 flows-0f water' during'that movement of the press which leaky check valves Preferably, a'groove 17 should take.

effects the-withdrawal of the ram; I have shown it as located inthe pipe m." An ordi-i nary check valve placed in this position would-open. to allow this free How fin one direction, but-would close and 1 prevent; the

flow of-water in the oppositev direction," so that the press would notthereafter operate at all; On the other hand, if thecheck valve did notseat tightly, butle'aked, then a slow reverse movement of thepress would' be possible,- the piston moving only asfast as therate ofleaka'ge of Water through the check valve'would permit. take advantage of this fact by, in efi'ect; providing a is filed in the valve, as" indicated in Fig; 9,

The dimensions of thisroove 'aresuch that the water is allowed to leak through the valve,"inthe up stroke of the pistons, fat the cupy the entire time which it is desired it This slow movement hasjfthe additional advantage of 1 giving adequate vtime for the gasolene to escape and thus per-j mit the powder to be thoroughly pressed into place. Y V

The mixed powder and'gasolene is-contained (see Fig. 4) Within afeed-Lmain; 18, from which extends a spout 19, the passage being controlled by a valve 20, which is operated by a hand lever 21. From {the spout 19 themixture drops into the funnel k5 To one of the rods p (see Figj. con'n'eee sponding piston is secured a 'st9p 22,in line of movement of which is ,a swinging leveri'or indicator 23, whichrests against'thejpin 24 whenever the lower end of theram is i notbelow thelevel'of the top of the bore of the fuse'container, t

The operation of the "machine maygbe briefly summarized as follows: The operator moves the handle it onto the low part of the i' 'f W its for the press o a? standstill; at he bottom :of itswdown-o stroke; that is,a when ,the -fuse holder block is'at ltSlOWGStiPOSltlOD. andtheram'r has been Withdrawn :toiaits i' maximum" extent;- The fuse container-,gv ruintoEwhich the Eplug. d has previously been placed, is properly posie tioned and is then; locked-.giii-qthat; position 7 by turningilthe handle 'hitoelevate the sup:

porting block g v- The hand lever 21: isbper-i rated to; causesthef. mixture of powder; and gasolene to floWxf-rom'the main ldithrough the spoutl'9 intothe'ifunnel- 7c. 7 so e: ot-Zthi's" mixture;v flows throughthe 7 hole f intO the bore b of the fuse container, 1 The 1 up-stroke of theipress causes ithesram m to press this pQwde r'firmlyi into the lowerlend of thebore,

efsthe *fuse; container; ;On this Alp-stroke of the press the'jpin 22 Ilifts .theindicatora'23 into -;the dotted. line position shown in Fig; 3; 'Jlhe1-press: now descends-.5 and an; addi-.

tional portion of the {powder mixture-de- 1 scends into the ghore; of the .fuse containeri On the sticcedingupj-strioke of the press,

the, ram mppresses the fresh? chargeagainst the g; previously. pressed ichargel hut neees'; 1

liftedzaas} high] ,as 'the; ;:dotted 'line position bore pf the fines container is packed full,

after which-the indicator $23 is: n0t...1iaea' from the pin 24;: f- -Hence the ofp'leratorEknows that .it :is'tim'e to. removelthe j se container;

container,- '1'efills1thefitunnelk; and the operation. isrepeated. 3 55 a; rWhile I prefer a to s e, av mixture-of pow; der and 'g'asolene,' 1my: invention ais'2* not are-V:

Y Which. he does. c :He; .theninserts-a new fuse V r stricted to handling of any particular' mix" ture, the machine being-I adapted to thelpacking, 'in-.any*fuse container, of explosive "pow-J derbyaitselfior'inrother mixtures. w I

It is clear, from the foregoingdescription,

that} the machinemayube operatedacontinw ously, and that while it isdesirable, inorder to secure the maX-immnoutputfto remove a filled fuse container I and; insert a new zone asisoon f as a container isifilled, any oversight ordelay: inthis regarddos'not afiect thesuce cssful operation of the machine: 'lTh'e press: sure exerted w upon :the powder "within" the fuse container is- 'alwaysthe'same irrespec' 1 20 tivegof the amount" of powder'fi in the container, rand: after the 7 Container?isi filled tlfe I fuse isjof uniform density throughqitdts length". The "fuse; is "pressed into itscon tainer 'so firmly that it eannot fallout hr he accidentally dislodged, "}The operation I i ex cept :for the supplying ofpowder an the removal and positioning otifi' use containers, is. entirely automatic; which" giveshdt'qonly the advantage of uniform output butal'sothe advantage oi? rapid production, the latterl 1.'.In: a-machinefor pachinzgitime iuse powder in fuse containers, a -iholder com-- 7 10 from thewiabutmenua a turnable handle en} result not being modified by the li'mited man ,ual operation necessary-,1 whieli; takes place while the .automatiamechanism isrin avtransitio-n-i p'ositiomdoing no useful work;

Having *now fullyfdescribed my; invention, whatiI claim: and: desirertoprotect' by- Letters'Patentfisz 1 E 7 1 prising an abutment adaptedltoi-engage one end oiithe 'containefia support for the other end 0f the container movable :toward I and gaging" the support, and a 1. cam" engaged by; the handle and determining the distance of: the support from the abutment. i

4 2. In a machine for packing time fuse powder in 1 fuse containers, a holdericolm prisingranupper member against-iwhieh one end of thevfuse container-is adapted to -abut,

a bottom: member, a 'support movable' up and down in: the bottom member," a I turnable handle engaging the' support, and: a cam engaged by the handle I and adapted, f as the handle-is turned,'fto lift it or allow it to'drop,

thereby] determining the leYel of the? sup- 39111; a machine -forpacking "time? fuse powderinfuse containers, the combination with j a press" comprising two members, one 7 4L; Ina-a machine for? iip'aclzing time lfuse 7 powder Q *in j fuse" containers, the combina-i tion wltha press comprismgtwo-members, one :of said'jmembersubelng .a holder for the 'container; and the fbtlleli a lramr adapted to engage. the -bore .Of 'the- FcOntainer, or hydraulicmechamsln for rec proeat ng one of said members ;I said: hydraulic mechanism comprising 3; cylinde'r ai. piston, vpipes and a valvetoilcontrol the direetion oi'; flowthrough the: pipes; and meafis'rtriathrottle V insure-a relatively slow? movement of said movable member-f during that movement thereof which zefiects' the compression of the P WCleI}; VT,

5: In. m'aohineriior packing; timei fuse powder: in fuse containers, the combination with a press, comprising ,two i members, one

offsaid members; being apholdi for-zthe container. and' -the other; a :ram i adapted to". engage "the; bore'-.of,.:the:: conta1ner,' --of;hy?

draulic Vm'echaniism for reciprocating one of -opposite'direction- 1:7. lngatmach'neq fonpacking; time. fuse l said. members; said; hydraulic mechanism comprising a cylinder, aJL piston, pipes and a5 valve to .controli'. the-; direction Toff flow operativea position;v than. in. a the other; and means: to throttle: theifibwzof :waterinone direction. E 1i In;-.a...'machinez :forj'paoking time fuse powder in; fuse, containers, the 1' combination with a press vcompri"sing two: members, one of saidmembers beinga aholderiforethe con-I throughthepipes means: (to, reciprocate said valvelto'hold it;substantiallydonger:inone I tainerian d the othen'a ram adapted to engage, I

the bore" ofzthe c'ontainer, ofz'hydraulic mechanism for. rr'e'ciprocating one. off said- "mem-t here; said hydraulic mechanism'gcomprising cylinder; a piston, pipes; and. a" valveito 7 control the; direction of flow"; through 3 the pipes; a1 check valve 1 in 7 one of said. pipes adapted-ate permit aIfree .fiow; of waterin dn'ef direction, and means-permitting a leakageijthrough the check valve while it,-'is

seated; during the :flow: of the water iuthe powder. infl-fusejjcontainers, the j combination witha'ipre'ss comprising two members, one of:,said;.members' being a holderfor the con-v tainerg and; the other/a ram adapted to .en-

members said hydraulic; mechanism comprising; a-c'ylind'er, a piston,-pipes and a valve to control th1directi0n offlow through the pipes, and a check vali e intone of said pipes,' said valveahaving a ent-away portion permitting ;a restricted flow of water there- 'through whenitvisseatedaz ,8. ln-a machine .for pack ng time fuse powder in iuse eontainers, the combination withiafpress comprising two: members, one of said/members being a holderforthe cone tainer and theother a ram adaptedjto engage the bore ofthe container, of hydraulic-mech-v anismf for? reciprocating :one ofsaid mem-.

bers; said hydraulic mechanism. comprising *a cylinder, :1 plStOIl, pipes and a valve to control the direction of flow through: the

pipes, .andf a cam eonnecte'd with Said Valve andtadapted to impart thereto a differential speed='-mo ,vement.

9; I j machine 'forpaekingfftime fuse :powderin fuse containersythe combination with a-press comprising two members, one of said members being a holderfor the container and theother a ram adapted to en: gage thebore of the container of hydraulic mechanism for reciprocating one 0f, said members; said hydraulic mechanism comgage theboreof:the-Qcontaiiir,,ofhydraulic v mechanism: for: reciprocating-Emile of said '95 prisinga cylinder a piston, pipes and a valve to control ,thedirectionof flow through the pipes,fa rotatable cam, and an oscillatingle-ver. connectedwith the alve and operated b'y the' cam, said camcbeing shaped to swing said lever in one direction during substantially less than half of each revolution of the cam.

10. In a machine for packing time fuse powder in fuse containers, the combinationv with a-press comprising two members,'on e of said members being a holder for the container and the other a ram adapted to engage the bore of the container ofhydraulic mechanism for reciprocating one of said members; said hydraulic .mechanism C0111 ened at one point to allow the lever to'be moved independently. .7

11. In a machine for packingtime fuse powder in fuse containers, the combination with a press comprising two members, one of said members being a holder for the con-'- tainer and the other aram adapted to engage the bore of the container, of means to reciprocate one of said members and at every alternate stroke thereof compressthe powder in the container, and an indicator operable to indicate the extent to which the;

powder in fuse containers, the combination with a press comprising two members, one

borefof the container is filled. V "'12.'In a machine for packing time fuse powder in fuse containers,the combination with a press comprising two members, one

of said members being a holder for the container and the other a ram adapted to en-" gage the bore of the container, of means to reciprocate one of said members and at every alternate stroke thereof compressthe powder in the container, a movable indicator, and means moving with said reciprocable member and adapted, duringthe move-. ment of the ram within the bore ofthe container, to move the indicator away from its normal position to an extent varying with the extent to which the ram enters said bore,

13. In a machine for packing time fuse powder infuse containers, the combination with a press. comprising two members, one of said members being a'holder for the container an'd'the other a ram adapted to engage theybore of thecontainer, and fluid mechanism for reciprocating, one of said 'members, said mechanism comprising, a cylinder, a piston therein, a fluid supply, a fluid discharge, pipes connected with opposite ends of the cylinder, a valve to connect said pipes respectively with the fluid sup ply and fluid discharge and to reverse said connections, and means in one of the pipes permitting an unrestricted flow of fluid in onedirection and throttling its flow in the opposite direction.

145111 .a machine powderyin fuse containers, the combination with a press comprising twomembers, one

for packing time fuse of said members being a' holder'for thecontainerand the other a ram adapted to fenjgage the bore of the container, of means'to reciprocate one of said members, anv indicator attached to one ofsaid members, and a stop secured to "the other, said stop being .so positioned that it will displace said. indi-' cator as long as the; said ram engages the bore of the container. f v 7 1 5. In a machine for packing time fuse to reciprocate one of said members, a mov able indicator and a stop therefor adjacent the press, and means secured to the recipro-.

cated member adapted to move the indicator awa from the stop a distance proportionate to t at to which the ram enters the bore of v the container. 1

' In testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set my hand, at Wilmington, Dela ware, on this 11th day of May, 1918.

ELEUTHERE PAUL DU PONT. 

